Free Peer Tutoring with Knack
George Mason University is partnering with Knack, a peer-to-peer tutoring platform, to provide access to high-level tutoring services for select courses each semester. The best part? These tutors are current George Mason students who have previously succeeded in the same courses, and the tutoring is free for our students!
Knack tutoring is available in person or online, at flexible hours. Check out the list below to see if your class is part of this service. If it is, visit gmu.joinknack.com and sign in with your Mason NetID and password to find out more and view available tutors.
- Students can find information about the university's tutoring resources at learningservices.gmu.edu/tutoring-resources2/.
- To request disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services at ods@gmu.edu or 703-993-2474.
Knack Peer Tutoring Courses
Biology
BIOL 103 - Introductory Biology II - Survey of Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL 124 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 125 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 213 - Cell Structure and Function
BIOL 214 - Biostatistics of Biology Majors
BIOL 430 - Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Business
BUS 210 - Business Analytics I
BUS 310 - Business Analytics II
Chemistry
CHEM 103 - Chemical Science in a Modern Society
CHEM 211 - General Chemistry I
CHEM 212 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 313 - Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 314 - Organic Chemistry II
Economics
ECON 103 - Contemporary Microeconomic Principles
ECON 104 - Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles
Finance
FNAN 303 - Finance Management
Global Community Health
GCH 270 - Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology I
GCH 271 - Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology II
GCH 335 - Applied Health Statistics
GCH 412 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology
Government
GOVT 300 - Research Methods and Analysis
Mathematics
MATH 105 - Precalculus Mathematics
MATH 108 - Introductory Calculus with Business Application
MATH 113 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
MATH 114 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
MATH 123 - Calculus with Algebra/Trigonometry, Part A
MATH 124 - Calculus with Algebra/Trigonometry, Part B
Statistics
STAT 250 - Introductory Statistics I
Knack Student FAQs
Knack is a company that helps provide tutoring at colleges and universities. Knack hires high-achieving students at George Mason University based on George Mason’s criteria, trains them as tutors, and provides a platform for Mason students to sign up for and receive tutoring. Knack hires the tutors and pays them an hourly wage. Knack delivers the program in collaboration with a campus liaison and team.
No. Knack is supplementing the other tutoring resources we have at George Mason. You can find more information on these here: https://learningservices.gmu.edu/tutoring-resources2/
The current list of 26 courses from Biology, Business, Chemistry, Global and Community Health, Government, Math, and Statistics.
Students verify that their class is supported by Knack tutoring. They then create an account on Knack using their existing George Mason credentials (via Single Sign-On).
Students use the Knack website or mobile app to submit a request for a tutor. Qualified tutors will be notified about this request. Tutors review the details and message the student with an offer to help. If the student wants to engage with the tutor, they will message the tutor to determine a time and date to meet in person or online.
George Mason sets peer tutor qualification requirements, primarily focused on minimum prior grade in the course and training. Knack then recruits and evaluates applicants.
Tutors and students must agree to uphold George Mason's code of conduct and academic standards policy while adhering to Knack’s strict Zero-Tolerance Policy for Academic Misconduct. Students who do not comply will have their access to Knack revoked. Any violations of academic standards are referred to George Mason.
Finally, post-session feedback and reporting allow users to flag one another as needed. Both tutors and the students receiving tutoring have this functionality. Knack investigates any such flags and will involve George Mason, as appropriate.
All tutoring occurs online or in public areas like Fenwick Library or the Johnson Center. Residence hall rooms or off-campus locations are not approved for in-person tutoring.
Students and tutors communicate through the Knack website or app, so they do not need to share personal contact information such as email addresses or phone numbers. When students schedule sessions, they are prompted to confirm awareness of safety recommendations and agreement with Knack and George Mason guidelines. More safety tips are in Knack’s Safety Help Article.
A student can request up to 3 hours per week of tutoring per class.
To learn more about George Mason and Knack, email lsstaff@gmu.edu.
Knack Tutor FAQs
Yes, a student who is a George Mason tutor through another service can sign up to be a tutor with Knack if they meet the specified criteria. Their work with Knack will be independent from their work at George Mason. International students, please check the FAQ “Are international students eligible to be tutors with Knack?” for further information.
At this time, students with an F-1 or J-1 Visa may not apply to be a tutor with Knack.
Other non-immigrant Visa holders may be eligible to apply to be a tutor with Knack if they meet the following criteria, including but not limited to:
- Have received permission to work in the U.S. from the organization sponsoring their Visa and have the appropriate documentation from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) such as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- Be physically present in the U.S.
- Have a Social Security Number, and
- Received a course grade of A- or above in a George Mason course in the past 2 years covered by Knack Peer Tutoring.
Knack provides initial required training for tutors, and George Mason and Knack partner to encourage students to complete additional recommended training.
Knack tutors are paid $17/hour. The tutoring is free for students who use it.
Knack tutors are allowed to work up to 15 hours per week.